Most people probably don’t picture an 84-year-old when they hear the word “powerlifter.”
Tami is helping change that— and she’s not doing it alone.
Three members of the Thrive Group Strength Training community have recently received invitations to compete in the 2026 USA Powerlifting (USAPL) IDFPA World Championships this November: Tami, age 84; Joyce, age 72; and Jim, age 77. We couldn’t be prouder of what these three have accomplished.
Their invitations recognize the work, consistency, and determination they have put into their training. But their achievements also represent something bigger. Tami, Joyce, and Jim are living proof that getting older does not have to mean giving up your strength, your physical capabilities, or your willingness to challenge yourself.
In fact, you might be surprised by what becomes possible when you continue making strength and movement a priority as you age.
Congratulations to Tami, Joyce, and Jim
We want to start by giving Tami, Joyce, and Jim the recognition they deserve.
Being invited to represent the United States in a powerlifting competition is an extraordinary achievement at any age. Doing it at 72, 77, and 84 makes their accomplishment even more inspiring. Powerlifting is often associated with young athletes, but strength belongs to everyone. These three Thrive members are showing exactly what can happen when people refuse to put an arbitrary expiration date on what their bodies are capable of doing.
Their success didn’t happen overnight. Strength is built through consistent training, proper coaching, patience, and a willingness to keep showing up. Those habits matter whether your goal is competing for your country or simply feeling stronger and more confident in everyday life.
We’re thrilled to see where their journey takes them this November, and we’re honored that Thrive gets to be part of it.
Strength Training Is For Everyone
At Thrive Group Strength Training, we’ve never believed that fitness should be reserved for fitness enthusiasts. Most of the people we train aren’t trying to become bodybuilders or professional athletes. They’re training for life. They’re training so carrying groceries into the house feels easier. They’re training so they can shovel the driveway when winter hits the Capital District. They’re training so they can get down on the floor, play with their grandchildren, and get back up again. They’re training so they can continue traveling, gardening, hiking, and doing the things that make their lives enjoyable.
That’s what functional strength is about— and as we get older, maintaining that strength becomes increasingly important.
Why Strength Matters as We Age
Aging brings changes to the body, but becoming weak and incapable doesn’t have to be accepted as an unavoidable part of getting older.
Consistent strength training can help older adults maintain the physical abilities they rely on every day. Training can support stronger muscles, better balance, improved mobility, and the confidence to continue moving through life independently. It can also make everyday movements more manageable: for some examples, think about how often you need strength without calling it “exercise.” Getting up from a chair requires strength. Carrying laundry upstairs requires strength. Picking something up from the floor requires strength. Lifting a suitcase into the trunk requires strength.
You don’t have to compete in powerlifting to benefit from becoming stronger. The objective is to build a body that is prepared for the life you want to live.
What Tami, Joyce, and Jim Can Teach All of Us
Not everyone who walks through our doors is going to represent the United States in a powerlifting competition—and that’s not the point. What Tami, Joyce, and Jim demonstrate is that our assumptions about aging can be far too limiting. At ages 50, 60, 70, 80, and beyond, you can still make new goals pursue. You will still have personal records to break. There will still be things that you haven’t accomplished yet.
The goal doesn’t even need to be dramatic. Maybe your victory is carrying your own groceries. Maybe it’s getting up and down the stairs comfortably. Maybe it’s keeping up with your grandchildren. Maybe it’s returning to an activity you thought you had left behind years ago.
The common denominator is maintaining your ability to participate in your own life.
That’s why we believe strength training should be viewed as an investment in the future—not simply a way to change how you look today.
Join the Thrive Community
From everyone at Thrive Group Strength Training, congratulations again to Tami, Joyce, and Jim. We are incredibly proud of all three of you, and we’ll be cheering you on as November approaches. Their accomplishments are a reminder of something we see every day at our Menands and Valatie gyms: age doesn’t determine whether you can become stronger. It’s all about consistency, effort, good coaching, and the willingness to keep moving forward.
If you want to cheer our friends on in person, the 2026 USA Powerlifting IDFPA World Championships will take place from November 4 through November 8, 2026, at the Hilton Houston Post Oak by the Galleria in Houston, TX.
If you’re looking for strength training designed specifically for adults over 50, Thrive Group Strength Training welcomes you. You don’t need to be a fitness enthusiast. You don’t even need any fitness experience at all! You just need to be ready to work toward a stronger, more capable version of yourself—and discover what might still be possible.